A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"Not ever…"

"It's not right! He can't just bring in—"

"But he's right, she's a royal, but she's still a student…"

"Besides, who's to say who she'll side with?"

"Don't be stupid! She's a Pendragon! The Pendragons and the Patricks…"

Such were the snippets that he caught from them. General Tavar moved to stand up from his chair, but then seemed to decide against it. Hod cut such a thoroughly oppressive presence now, that few would have been willing to stand next to him. To Oliver, he looked like a General on a battlefield. As he was now, no one could touch him, even if they'd tried.

"The witness is to be allowed," Tavar declared finally. "As the Minister of Logic states, it does not go against our laws. Besides, she is the most important witness in this case, is she not?"

"But General--!" Lazarus jumped in, his voice considerably more energetic than the old man's droll that he usually spoke in.

"Enough," General Tavar said, speaking to Jolamire as well, as he looked about to burst into another protest. "Both of you. It is done. The laws will not be changed mid-trial."

They were not made to wait long, as Hod warned that they would be. Indeed, it was hardly any time at all. Not long enough for the crowd to compose themselves, as they jostled with each other, talking in fierce conversation, battling back and forth as they tried to understand the significance of what had just happened.

The Ministers had been quieted by Tavar, but that did not stop Lazarus and Jolamire from engaging in their own urgent discussions. Oliver was sure that he could see a line of sweat beginning on Jolamire's head, something that his thin blonde hair was beginning to stick to.

In that sea of chaos, Hod alone stood calmly, like a lighthouse, his eyes furious in their observation. He seemed to be taking everything in – every reaction of every individual, no matter how minor in nobility they were, he seemed to pay them some sort of attention.

Whether he would remember it all, Oliver was unsure, but given this new hide of the Minister of Logic that he was seeing – that they were all seeing – he was disinclined to doubt the man.
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It was Lancelot that they saw first. Of course. Royalty, even as a witness, could not be expected to attend without a bodyguard. The second Oliver saw the man, with that pretty face, and pretty hair of his, he was surprised that he felt none of the usual irritation that he'd felt in Lancelot's presence.

Whilst he was quite sure that Lancelot was an irredeemable snob, there was something about the way that he had spoken to Jorah after the assassination attempt that had begun to unveil a different side to him, a different cloak of complexity. With that side to him, Oliver could begin to see why Asabel kept him around.

Lazarus came first, dressed in silver, his jacket dazzling with the jewels sewn in with the silver thread, and his blue shirt peeking out underneath. After him, like one of the Goddesses descended from the ceiling above them, there came Asabel Pendragon, dressed as Oliver had never seen her before – a considerably more stately dress, that of royalty.

Her golden dress complimented Lancelot's silver, as he strode one step ahead of her, protectively leading her down the hall. The maids that had carried the end of her long trailing dress were forced to wait by the door, and now it carried over the smooth tiles of the Minister's hall, as the heels of her shoes clacked a steady rhythm ahead of her.

She looked towards Oliver in his chains, and her face seemed remorseful. Delicately sad, as though she'd just seen the deepest of tragedies. Oliver couldn't explain the shame he felt, sitting there, when he'd been able to remain calm up until then. He couldn't meet her gaze. Why couldn't he? He hadn't done anything to be ashamed of, had he?

The nobility had the grace not to speak, as Asabel glided down the length of the walkway, to the same lowly spot that all the other witnesses had spoken from. It seemed to be beneath her, after seeing so many others there before her. And yet, the way she carried herself seemed… earthly, somehow, despite her godly appearance.

She had a way to her that did not exude the arrogance the Redborne or Gargon had displayed. She seemed to look at everyone with the same gentle eyes, her expression soft, and continually remorseful.

She made a courtesy to the Ministers, where many of the others had forgotten. The Ministers looked the most uncomfortable that they had the entire trial. Only when Lancelot copied his Lady with a bow was Tavar able to give a stern nod of acknowledgement.

"Your Highness," Hod said, bowing back to her, his own town softer, the edge that it had to it blunted, after being filled with rage for so long. "Thank you for taking time out of your day to be here with us. I have no doubt that your insight will prove invaluable. And you as well, Lancelot Swiftrider. Yours is a family of high repute.

In matters of justice, I do not think that your opinion would ever be taken lightly."

"You honour me greatly, Minister," Lancelot said diplomatically, giving the man another bow at the praise.

"And you honour me too, good Minister," Asabel said, her voice as clear as a bell, yet where Hod's had softened, there seemed to be some sort of hidden ferocity in Asabel's that Oliver would not have ever believed she was capable of. A ferocity that dwelled there, amidst the blanket of sadness, and the sense of peace.

Seeing her, as composed as she was, it felt ridiculous for Oliver to have ever thought of himself as calm. Compared to the likes of Asabel, he was like a raging animal. He couldn't even attempt to copy such grace, not without lying – and Asabel didn't lie.

She seemed to wear all her feelings on her sleeve, whilst also doing so in a way that was profoundly noble, despite being contradictory to noble values. They taught the hiding of emotions, and she did the opposite, whilst exceeding them all in their own strivings.

"I will dive straight into the meat of the matter," Hod said. "You met with Oliver before the attempt on his life, did you not?"